Beaulieu-les-mines

Beaulieu-les-mines is envisaged as being located in the old heavy industry part of Belgium, between Charleroi and the French border.The railway is part of the metre gauge Belgian Vicinal Light Railway system (SNCV) which served much of Belgium.The SNCV locos and stock are based on SNCV prototypes and include a tram Garratt.A metre gauge line from Hirson in France has running powers to reach Chimay. The French locos and stock are based on various skirted prototypes from the lines in North and West France.The high level lines are part of the Charbonnage de Beaulieu (colliery) and serve the coal loading building. The SNCV built some special coal containers for easy transport and transhipment of coal. The colliery locos are all steam and have enclosed motion. Time is set about in the 1930’s, so there are plenty of steam tram locos in addition to the four wheel Diesel railcars and steam railcars.